"Illinois is 4 for 4 for each of those voter accessibility policies," Gonzalez said. That puts Illinois at the top of states when it comes to voter accessibility.

And yet Illinois ranked 28th in registration, and 34th when it comes to citizens actually voting.

"Hopefully we can see both of those numbers go to the flip side and become better than average," she said.

Gonzalez says one factor may be Illinois' big age gap. The last presidential election, 35-percent of Illinois voters 24 and younger voted, versus 70-percent of seniors.

She says the most politically engaged states (the District of Columbia, Colorado and Wisconsin) see more young residents going to the polls.

When it comes to voter engagement overall, Illinois ranks right in the middle of the pack, at 23rd.

Gonzalez says analysts looked at factors like age, GDP and whether a state is considered to be solidly Democratic or Republican. Illinois' blue leanings may contribute to the voter turnout trends.

"I think that it really does come down to the state leaning, to be blue, a lot of times when it comes to presidential elections," she said. "And some voters feel like they have maybe less of a say, maybe that their vote doesn't count as much. And that can be either if they're voting for either a blue or a red candidate."

Even if you feel that way, there's an item on every ballot that's not partisan: A proposal to amend the state constitution.

As a candidate for governor once again tries to make political hay over a prison early-release program, a group of state lawmakers met in Chicago Tuesday to consider drastic changes to Illinois’ criminal justice system.

Republican Bruce Rauner is trying to remind voters about a botched, secret early release program that dates to Gov. Pat Quinn’s first year in office.